Category: NB Area Historical Society

Relive the Jazz Age at a Roaring 20s Gala Fundraiser at the Wood County Historical Center & Museum, 13660 County Home Rd. in Bowling Green on Saturday, December 1 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM.

Come together at this annual event to enjoy the ritzy festivities of a speakeasy with 1920’s-inspired hors d’oeuvers, cocktails & mocktails, live music, and a holiday gift courtesy of the Historical Society Gift Shop.

There will also be a silent auction featuring a variety of themed Gift Baskets with local goodies from artists, merchants, and restaurants at the event. Some of the items include: a Zamboni ride & tickets to the Toledo Walleye, Glass Bowl from Toledo Museum of Art & a House Jazz Concert, courtesy of Jeffrey Halsey. An additional 50-50 raffle will also take place during the event.

Live entertainment will be provided by the BGSU Chamber Jazz Quartet.

The gala will take place throughout the museum, where visitors can have the last tour of the WWI exhibit “Over There! Send Word, the Wood County Boys are Coming!”and “The Return to Normalcy: A Life of Leisure in Wood County.”

The flu came in three waves beginning in late 1918 and continuing until the spring of 1919…….

submitted by Margaret Bobb, NB Area Historical Society

Five percent of the world’s population died in the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic (H1N1 virus). Approximately one-third of the world’s population (500 million people) became infected with the virus, and at least 50 million died worldwide with about 675,000 deaths in the United States.

The deaths began in the fall of 1918 in North Baltimore. By December 5, Spanish influenza had taken the lives of twelve people.

The disease progressed very rapidly with some people feeling fine in the morning, sick at lunch and being dead by dinner. Death certificates for those who died in N. Baltimore show that nearly all of the patients were under a doctor’s care for only a day or two. Symptoms included high fever, difficulty breathing, and extreme aches and pains. Some patients developed severe pneumonia and dark spots on their cheeks and turned blue before they died.

On October 18, 1918, North Baltimore Mayor Michael Roach issued a proclamation ordering that all saloons be closed until further orders, all businesses except drug stores be closed at 6 P.M. every day, public funerals were prohibited, people were not allowed to gather in crowds on sidewalks or business places, and burning leaves on streets was not allowed.

At the time of Mayor Roach’s proclamation there were about 300 cases of influenza in the community and three residents had already died. All community schools were closed for an indefinite period of time to prevent the spread of the disease. Doctors from Bowling Green, Findlay, Toledo, Hoytville, and Cygnet were called in to assist the local doctors due to a shortage of local medical professionals. The only doctor who was able to treat patients at that time was Dr. Albert Henry. Drs. Charles Cavett and Elmer Powell were in the service; Drs. Daniel Reddin and John Archer had come down with the disease themselves; and Dr. George Foltz had fractured his jaw bone when he was struck on the face by the crank of his automobile. Even with assistance from doctors from surrounding communities there were still a large number of families who could not find a doctor to treat them.

Although most of the deaths worldwide from the influenza were people who were aged 20-40 and generally in good health, the average age of those who died in North Baltimore was 17 years. Local deaths included infants/toddlers, teens, and young mothers and fathers with the first death (October 11) being 17 year old Howard Monthaven. Monthaven passed away at the home of his parents on N. Tarr Street. He was the second of four children in the family and his older brother, Horace, had been drafted. Howard had operated the Hub Billiard Parlor in N. Baltimore for several years. The funeral was held in his parent’s home with saloons and business places being closed during the funeral.

Other teens who died were: Amos Ordway (age 19) who was a Hammansburg resident but died in the Columbia Hotel in North Baltimore, Tressa Swope (age 17), Frank Earlywine (age 19), and Mary Goodyear (age 15).

Three of the NB residents who died were infants or toddlers. The first young child to be taken by the Spanish influenza was two year old Howard Sines. Three days after Howard’s death, 16 month old Wilson Miller was taken, followed by 16 month old Gertrude Mundweiler. Gertrude had been taken to a hospital in Toledo where she died; her mother, Lena, died of tuberculosis in January 1919. Gertrude and her mother are buried together in Maplewood Cemetery.

Also included in those who died from the Spanish influenza were young fathers and mothers. On October 16, Grover Cleveland Sines (age 32) died in his home on Summit Street. He was the father of four children ages 10, 7, 4, and 2 and husband of Ethel who gave birth to their fifth child in eight months after Grover’s death. His obituary states that two of his children were recovering from the influenza and two others were seriously ill—eleven days later his two year old son Howard died. On October 22, Ada (Boyer) Simon died. Ada was 28 years old and was the mother of Norman (age 5), and Frieda (age 10) and wife of Floyd. On October 30 Georgia (Dick) McLaughlin (age 19) passed away. She was survived by her husband of two years, Joseph and her 15 month old daughter, Marcelle. The last death due to Spanish influenza was recorded on December 5, 1918 when 36 year old May (Williams) Sterling died. May was survived by her husband Dallas.

The flu came in three waves beginning in late 1918 and continuing until the spring of 1919. An article in the Weekly Beacon in late January 1919 stated: “the flu has again struck and over 100 people are down with the malady. About 50 pupils of the public schools are down. Schools and business places will likely be closed soon to prevent further spread.”

Although additional cases of Spanish influenza were reported in North Baltimore in early 1919, no additional deaths occurred. By the summer of 1919, the disease had disappeared worldwide and life in North Baltimore slowly returned to normal.

The Bells of Peace Has Become the Major Armistice Day Remembrance in America

As of today, the NB Historical Center knows definitely that Holy Family, St. Luke’s and Village Hall will be ringing bells on Sunday (11/11/2018) @ 11 am.

If you know of any other churches or groups that want to participate, please let them know this: The World War Commission is providing a downloadable certificate of participation that the NB Historical Center can complete and send to all who participate. Contact them by email–nboahs@nbpubliclibrary.org or 419-257-2266 (or contact Margaret Bobb at 419-257-3579).

(Thank you to Margaret Bobb, NB Area Historical Society for this information)

What Is It All About?

What is the National Bell Tolling?

Bells of Peace: A National World War I Remembrance is a national tolling of bells to honor those who served in the Great War. The United States participated from 6 April 1917 to 11 November 1918.

Why should we toll the bells?Tolling of bells is the traditional way to mark someone’s passing. On special national occasions, bells are tolled in honor of the fallen. 11 November is the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended hostilities in World War I. In the war, 116,516 Americans died and over 200,000 were wounded.

When is the National Bell Tolling?On Sunday, 11 November 2018 at 11:00 a.m. local time across the United States and its territories.

Where will the National Bell Tolling take place?In communities, houses of worship, cemeteries, military installations, ships at sea–anywhere that Americans gather to honor their veterans.

Who is sponsoring the National Bell Tolling?The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission is the sponsor. The Commission was created by Act of Congress in 2013 to honor, commemorate, and educate the public about American participation in World War I. The Pritzker Military Museum and Library, our founding sponsor, also endorses this event. Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion are partners, as are the National Cathedral and the Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. State World War I commissions and other partners are encouraged to co-sponsor and publicize the event.

How can my community group participate?At 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, 11 November toll your bells slowly 21 times with a five-second interval between tolls. Groups that do not have bells can render the salute by other available means such as guns, cannons, rifles, and sirens. No bell? No worries. We are planning to create a special downloadable smartphone app that can be used privately or with public address systems.

Why is it important to toll the bells 21 times? The 21 tolls of the bell symbolize the nation’s highest honor. It is based on the 21-gun salute, whose origin is described here. We suggest you toll your bells 21 times and follow that with an individual toll for each veteran you wish to honor, stating their name before each toll. The ceremony could conclude with “Taps” or a solemn reading.

Where can I get more information?At: www.ww1cc.org/bells. At this link, you will be able to find suggestions for songs, poems, and other content you can use for your community event. You can also upload photos, videos, and information about your event and find links to education and other World War I Centennial information.

A North Baltimore man was the first Wood County serviceman to die in combat in World War I……

NORTH BALTIMORE IN WORLD WAR I

Vernon Wymer was the first Wood County serviceman to die in combat in World War I. He was born in Galatea in 1900 to Charles and Ella Wymer and was living in North Baltimore when the United States entered the war against Imperial Germany.

Vernon Wymer, WW I

Vernon enlisted as a private in Company H, 2nd Infantry of the Ohio National Guard in July 1917 at Bowling Green, Ohio.

He trained with them until he was sent as a replacement to the American Expeditionary Force in France in early 1918. He was then assigned to the 2nd United States Infantry Division as a rifleman with Company K, 23rd Infantry Regiment.

During the Second Battle of Marne, Private Wymer was killed on July 2, 1918 while his unit was attacking Germany army units holding the village of Vaux.

At the request of his family, Private Wymer’s body was returned to the United States for burial in 1921. Several thousand people attended his funeral in North Baltimore. He is buried in Weaver Cemetery, Bloom Township, Wood County beside his brother Gerald, who was killed in World War II.

Four other North Baltimore area residents also lost their lives in World War I either through disease or accident. They are:

Charles B. Lawrence, Seaman 2nd Class, US Navy: Lawrence died of Spanish influenza at the Naval Hospital of the Great Lakes on September 23, 1918 at age 25 years. Surviving him were his parents Bassett and Nellie Lawrence. Charles had attended Notre Dame University for 2 years prior to enlisting. He is buried in Hough Cemetery.

John W. Weaver, Private, US Army. Weaver died at Camp Forrest, Georgia on October 9, 1918 at age 27 years. Surviving him were his parents Ichabod and Nancy Weaver. He is buried in Maplewood Cemetery.

Howard W. Wrede, Yeoman 2nd Class, US Navy. Wrede died of pneumonia caused by the Spanish influenza at the U. S. Naval Hospital in Norfolk, VA on October 13, 1918 at age 22 years. Surviving him were his parents Albert and Minnie Wrede. He is buried in Maplewood Cemetery.

Morris H. Neiman, 2nd Lieutenant, US Army. Neiman died of pneumonia caused by the Spanish influenza at Camp Sherman (Chillicothe) on October 15, 1918 at age 28 years. Surviving him were his parents Henry and Nettie; wife Helen; and 6-month-old daughter Betty Jean. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Toledo.

At 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 11, 2018 the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission will hold a nationwide tolling of bells known as Bells of PeacE: A WORLD WAR I REMEMBRANCE in memory of all those who gave their lives during World War I……

November 11, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended hostilities in World War I. In this war, 116,516 Americans died and over 200,000 were wounded. Five young men from North Baltimore died in service of their country including 18 year old Vernon Wymer who was the first soldier killed in action from North Baltimore and Wood County.

At 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 11, 2018 the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission will hold a nationwide tolling of bells known as Bells of PeacE: A WORLD WAR I REMEMBRANCE in memory of all those who gave their lives during World War I. The tolling of bells serves as a reminder of the sacrifice and service of veterans of World War I, and all veterans.

American Legion Post 539 and the North Baltimore Historical Society invites the churches, schools, town hall, and individuals of North Baltimore to participate in this commemoration by tolling their bells at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 11, 2018. Bells should be rung slowly 21 times with a five-second interval between tolls. If you do not have a bell, the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission will be creating a special downloadable smartphone app that can be used privately or with public address systems. It is suggested that you toll your bells 21 times and follow that with an individual toll for each man from N. Baltimore* who died during World War I, stating their name before each toll.

As you travel down Main Street be sure and check out the freshly painted sunburst over the entrance of the NBOAHS building (229 N. Main). Thanks to the painting talent of Jim “Picasso” Kuhlman this special architectural feature has a new look.

Sunbursts were popular architectural symbols during the Victorian Era of the late 1800’s and were used as a symbol of prosperity. Some architectural historians also think the full sunburst was used to represent the British Empire—“the sun never sets on the British Empire.” The half sunburst/setting sun represents the decline of power and influence of the British Empire.

There are at least three other houses in North Baltimore that still have original sunburst architecture features. Do you know their locations?

Anna Caroline Harris was born on January 3, 1870 in Gilboa, Ohio. Although her given name was Anna, her family and friends called her Nellie. Anna’s father, Alexander Ruldolphus Harris was a farmer. Her mother, Nancy Jane (Crawfis) Harris died six weeks after giving birth to her ninth child. Anna was 10 years old when her mother died on October 20, 1880 and baby brother died on December 25, 1880. She grew up on her father’s farm with her three brothers and four sisters. Anna’s father remarried in 1882 and six half-sisters and two half-brothers were added to her already large family.

Anna married Andrew Duff Bracy in 1887 at the age of 17 and they raised six children (three boys and three girls). Around 1890 the Bracy family moved to N. Baltimore where Duff Bracy was a farmer. Four of their children: Forest (1893), Aetna (1895), August (1897), and Harriette (1900) were born in North Baltimore.

Beside raising her six children, Anna Bracy was a saloon owner. Anna Bracy’s saloon was located on the west side of N. Main Street in the Dillinger Block [across from current LO8 Salon] and it was a popular place to buy beer and whiskey. A large rectangular shed, which was formerly a bowling alley, behind the saloon was a popular place to gamble.

North Baltimore was a thriving community with twenty-three saloons in 1891. Although the town had passed laws regulating saloon operating hours, gambling, etc. these laws were loosely enforced.

However, Anna Bracy was frequently charged with selling alcohol to minors or selling outside of hours of operation set by the town. She was also cited for keeping barrels of oil that were close to gas lights.

View of N. Main Street looking north in late summer 1891.

Here’s how Anna Bracy changed Main Street…

On the night of October 30, 1891 there was a poker game going on in the gambling shed behind Anna Bracy’s saloon. Around 11 o’clock a fight broke out and during the scuffle a coal oil lamp was knocked over which started a fire. The shed behind the saloon was also the location where Mrs. Bracy stockpiled oil barrels.

Fortunately, a short time before the fire some of Bracy’s oil stockpile had been confiscated by town officials. The men who were responsible for starting the fire disappeared into the night without reporting the fire.

A B&O railroad crew that was working near the depot noticed the fire and sounded the alarm. The fire spread rapidly due to the brisk wind, drought conditions in the area, the wooden construction of most of the buildings, and other factors.

Although the Dillinger Block was constructed of brick, it was filled with highly flammable wood and other items. Most of the saloons were built of local timber and heated by coal or wood burning stoves and lighted by kerosene or natural gas lamps. In many cases whiskey was stored in wooden barrels and stove ash and smoking materials were handled carelessly.

Behind the Main Street businesses and along the alley business owners often built sheds, stables and fences, some of which were constructed from oil soaked wood from dismantled oil derricks.

In all, 17 businesses on the west side of the 100 block of N. Main were destroyed by the fire with two of them being saloons, including Anna Bracy’s. The Henry Opera House was also damaged.

Twenty-four businesses on the east side of the street were destroyed, including ten saloons and the First National Bank on the north-east corner of N. Main and E. Broadway was damaged.

A view of N. Main Street shortly after the 1891 fire.

Most of the town’s businessmen began planning to rebuild almost immediately. Some of the saloon keepers had purchased building supplies before the weekend was over. As a result of the fire’s damage, town officials began to enforce already existing construction laws and very few new buildings were built of wood. Rebuilding began almost immediately and by 1893 there was an entirely new look to Main Street, N. Baltimore.

Sometime between 1900 and 1910 the Bracy family moved to Butler, Michigan where Anna died on April 21, 1916. Apparently Anna did not continue in the saloon business after moving to Michigan as her occupation is listed as “none” in the 1910 census.

A view of N. Main Street looking north from railroad tracks in 1899.

If you would like to know more about the fire of 1891, pick up a copy of North Baltimore’sGreat Fire of 1891 written by Tom Boltz at the Historical Center ($8.00).

Dedication of the parlor at the North Baltimore Area Historical Museum, in honor of Len L. Trout Sr., was held on July 28.

Dedication of the parlor at the North Baltimore Area Historical Museum, in honor of Len L. Trout Sr., was held on July 28.

His grandson, Gregory L. Trout of El Dorado Hills, CA, was present for the occasion. Also attending was a group of Greg’s friends and classmates, NBOAHS Board members, Library Board members, a former Trout Furniture employee, and several children of former employees.

A plaque with the following information has been placed in the parlor:

Len L. Trout Sr. was born in Van Buren in 1879. His grandfather, John Trout, was one of the founders of the town in 1833. Len chose not to enter farming as an occupation but decided to join his older brother George in opening a furniture store on N. Main in Findlay. They were very successful and Len decided in 1903 to open another store, this time in North Baltimore. His parents bought a farm north of the Wixom Quarry, and Len and his wife Dolly moved into their large new home at 515 N. Main Street (now Smith-Crates Funeral Home).

Len was a civic leader and served eight terms on the city council. He turned over operations of the store to his son, Len Trout, Jr. in 1950. Len Sr. passed away in 1962. Many community leaders, friends, and family attended his funeral, which was held in his first home in N.B. (then the Paden Funeral Home). This house was also where his second son, Len Trout Jr., was born in 1916.

The Story of L.L. Trout Furniture

The L.L. Trout Furniture Store began in 1900 in Findlay, Ohio, as George and Len Trout started Trout Brothers Furniture. They opened their store on N. Main near the river, right across the street from another furniture store owned by their aunt. Trout Brothers moved to a larger location across from Findlay City Hall (311 S. Main). In 1903 Len and Dolly decided to strike out on their own and move to the booming town of N. Baltimore and open the second Trout Furniture store.

The first store was on the east side of Main, south of Broadway. But, in 1908 Len saw an opportunity to buy the M.E. Dirk furniture store near City Hall. Jacob Dirk was one of the founders of N.B., and the west side of N. Main and Broadway was the site of some of the first buildings in N.B.

Eventually, after several more expansions, the entire block to City Hall became the Trout Block. Then, in 1940 with the acquisition of Stouffers Hardware store, Trouts with its various warehouses had become the largest retail business in N.B. past or present. It was to furnish nearly all the homes in N.B. and the surrounding areas. Many residents still have pieces of furniture from the store or small cedar chests which were given as graduation gifts.

After WW II Len Sr. decided it was time to turn over the reins of the business to his second son, Len Jr., who had returned from the Navy in 1945. The business and his house at 134 S. Main, now the Ralph Wolfe house, was sold to Len Jr. where his family lived until 1959.

Eventually all good things must come to an end. After the boom years before WW I and then after WW II, retail business began a slow decline. Len Jr. sold the business in 1959 and moved to Bryan, Ohio, where he took over a larger, more modern store, Trout Wayside Furniture. The Trout Furniture Store continued through most of the 1970’s in spite of the major destructive fire in December 1971 which leveled the entire Trout store and later took with it the classic Town Hall Building. So now what was once the beginning and center of retail in North Baltimore that continued for nearly 100 years is empty, waiting for a new start and another entrepreneur in the spirit of the Trouts and the proud history of North Baltimore, Ohio.

This history was written for the North Baltimore Historical Society by its grateful supporter, Gregory L. Trout, grandson of Len L. Trout Sr. and former employee of Trout Furniture (window washer, delivery helper, plant waterer, and mail stamper.)

NBOAHS President Margaret Bobb and Greg Trout in the L.L. Trout Sr. Parlor

Dedicated during the Good Ole Summertime Festival on Saturday, July 28th…

Village Historian, Bonnie Knaggs, with the help of several volunteers, arranged to have an Ohio Historical marker placed at the site of the former North Baltimore High School (part of it was Elementary school) at the corner of West State Street and South Second Street. The marker was dedicated during the Good Ole Summertime Festival on Saturday, July 28th.

Thanks Rick for EmCeeing the event, thanks to the American Legion post 539, for the flag pole and flag, (and participating) Boy Scout Troop 315, NBSchool band members and director, Ben Pack, to C.J. and Tracy Cotterman for the tent, Smith-Crates Funeral Home & Jill Guy for the chairs, Village North Baltimore Public Works employees for erecting the marker & flag pole, to North Baltimore Public Employees..Holly Emahiser Ryder, director; Leah McMahan & Diana Patterson for assisting with the research for the historical marker; Art & Cyndi Schwab Hotaling for donating bricks from 1927 school building;Eric Mays for distributing programs, Steve Crouse for donating & printing program covers; April Dick and Courtney Bretz for assembling programs, Allyson Murray, village administrator, for typing program, Stephanie Walters for helping to fill out application for marker, St.Luke’s Lutheran Church for hosting the reception following the dedication, to Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative for refreshments, Brenda Chaffin for desserts, to NB Schools for P.A. system, Mark and Ginger Reichenbach for solar light for flag pole, to Mayor Janet Goldner, Andy Verhoff, Ohio History Connection, for his guidance, Lu Cooke, public liaison for Gov. John Kasich, Village of North Baltimore for assisting and most of all THANKS TO CYNTHIA HARRIS THOMPSON AND HER HUSBAND, DR. DAVID THOMPSON, FOR FUNDING THE MARKER. It took a lot of people doing many different jobs in order to make this project possible THANK YOU ONE AN ALL. ALSO, THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE CEREMONY. sorry if I missed anyone…didn’t know the names of the members of the Boy Scouts and American Legion that participated or the band members…but it took many people to make all this happen.